Waste Food Challenge ???

maman

ostaragirl wrote: »

I'm in the process of clearing out a cupboard just now and am looking for ideas to use the following and wondered where to post?

A nearly full bag of Alpen
Lots of Porridge Oats
Some bran
2 unopened jars of mincemeat
A bag of Pecans

I have an idea that I'd like to make some sort of granola/cereal bars? could I mix the lot together and bake it? would like suggestions as to what to do with it

I was thinking flapjack type thing. Something like this:
http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/christmas-flapjack.html

ostaragirl

maman wrote: »

I was thinking flapjack type thing. Something like this:
http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/christmas-flapjack.html

Thanks exactly the type of thing! I've got a tray of it in the oven now and its smelling lovely, like Christmas over again. I may even try an adaptation with the Alpen and oats mixed. I suppose it's just a case of adding butter to bind the mixture when it cooks.

dogmom_3

Yes, this is a very useful thread. I've been much more aware of using stuff up instead of buying more food since starting the grocery challenge. I am trying to work my way through all the packets in the pantry which I would usually ignore until out of date:eek:
- stuff like flour and dried beans seem to get forgotten about and I find them five years later! I couldn't salvage a big bag of currants though - they already tasted off.

katkin

It's not always waste for me but greed. I buy or cook far too much and too often its an excuse for me to eat is so I'm not wasting it...:o It seems I'd rather be a fat bin than waste something. This has to stop

My portions are too big. So I've been getting canny and weighing stuff out. Has anyone else noticed that packets suggest portion weights that are ridiculously big? Rice and pasta are the main suspects, porridge too. I can actually do happily with a lot less than the recommended.

Yesterday I made my usual weight of pizza dough - 500g flour etc. This I'd make into 2 pizzas for us, but I divided it into 4 this time and froze 2. The pizzas that were baked were perfect, still a generous size.

Not sure if this is technically saving waste as in coming up with ideas to use it - but I do feel we should be minding portion sizes too and not using our bodies as storage bins!

lindab15

I'm up for this challenge. Generally have every good intention, but forget about things which end up languishing at the back of the fridge and have to be chucked out (or, if I catch them before they're completely disgusting, given to the chickens). Such a waste, and I hate it, but life gets in the way and before I know it, things have gone 'off' and I have to buy more !

So - have done a meal plan for next week (and posted in the relevant thread !) and will stick to it. Have checked out the fridge and will make a batch of salad which will be fine for the next couple of days (and will make me eat more salad, too, if it's already prepared !).

Got a Mr T shop today and don't intend to buy anything (other than milk) for the next few weeks. Going to go through the cupboards and make the most of what I already have. The meal planning board is useful for ideas for meals and also for using up leftovers ! They're pretty inventive over there.

Good luck all. :beer:

Soworried

I see potential waste as a challenge. I challenge myself to find a way to use it up. It might not be that day as I sometimes freeze things but it will get used at some point without wasting it.

Like today, I had a 4p YS lettuce on the turn in the fridge. I added to a pan with veg stock and a potato diced and some onion. Cooked for 25 minutes and blended. Yummy soup in to the freezer for lunch some time.

cornishchick

I hate waste, but some things are beyond me.

I used a pack of cooking bacon today,and chopped off all the fat, then froze it, can't think of what to use it for though... lol
Any Ideas?

ETA that's just fat I froze, I used all the good bits.
So ideas for using the fatty bits please...

lindsaygalaxy

I'm in I try really hard but during term time I work so much that things often get thrown away:( You can tell its half term - yesterday we had roast. I made 3 individual chicken, mushroom and stuffing pies (all leftovers - even the gravy for the pies, made some pastry for the tops and put into the freezer for quick meals after work.


We have leftover veg that I am going to attempt to make into bubble and squeak later - last time it was a disaster? Any tips?


CornishChick - bacon or gammon? If its gammon I would make a gammon, leak and potato pie. If it is bacon maybe carbonara? Or a 'throw everything in' tinned chopped tomatoes/onion/garlic etc pasta sauce.

ostaragirl

Over the weekend I managed to turn some boring cereals, oats and mince meat into tasty tray bakes and use some some packet sauce mixes that were just out of date.
On a mission to de-clutter the kitchen, today I'm going to tackle the stocks, spices and sauces cupboard.
I have one problem lurking that I'm not sure how to tackle yet, I really need to defrost my freezer, never done this before. Been gradually using things up since end of last year and trying not to add to it.

maman

lindsaygalaxy wrote: »

I'm in I try really hard but during term time I work so much that things often get thrown away:( You can tell its half term - yesterday we had roast. I made 3 individual chicken, mushroom and stuffing pies (all leftovers - even the gravy for the pies, made some pastry for the tops and put into the freezer for quick meals after work.


We have leftover veg that I am going to attempt to make into bubble and squeak later - last time it was a disaster? Any tips?

I've been in exactly your position Lindsay and I really found that meal planning and batch cooking helped to save me time (as well as money:money:). I'd start by doing an inventory of all your stores (freezer, cupboards etc) and then be strict with yourself maintaining it. At the end of each week, write down a meal plan (nothing fancy, just a list of suppers really) with a mixture of meals that are quick to do after school and those that take a bit longer for the weekends. Base the meals on what you already have in and only put on your list what is essential. Then when you get to the supermarket, you can just whizz round buying the few things on your list. No dithering, no thinking, no impulse buying. Try to set aside some time this week (and/or at weekends) for doing a bit of batch cooking for the freezer. I used to spend a few hours on a Saturday or Sunday in the kitchen, listening to the radio and sorting out some meals.


As for the bubble & squeak I find it only really works with mash so that it holds all the other bits together but you could try crushing roast or boiled potatoes. I like a bit of fried onion and/or garlic in there too for added flavour.


Enjoy your break.:)